U of M offers live TV Channels streaming online

I've never seen it posted here, but it's relevant for any current students, faculty, and maybe graduates (not sure if they qualify).

U of M offers live TV channels over the internet to watch. If you're not real good at computers, like me, it's a little tricky to figure out how to set it up off-campus, but there are instructions and FAQ to help.

Channels offered:

ABC

CBS

The CW

Fox

NBC

PBS

Big Ten Network

USA

Bloomberg

CBS College Sports

CNN

Food Network

Fox News

Michigan Channel

MSNBC

MTV2

Nat Geo

Science Channel

History Channel

Weather Channel

Spanish/French/Italian/other language channels

Here is the link. Hope someone here can explain how to download a VPN and sign in to access it from anywhere, because I can't.

Steps: (Windows, I don't have a MAC and cant' remember the exact process)

1. Select Windows

2. Log-in using your kerberos account

3. Select 32-bit or 64-bit VPN client. You can verify which bit version by doing the following (right click on My Computer and select "Properties", on the window that pops up will show you which bit version you have).

4. Download and install the VPN client.

5. At the bottom of the page after you log-in using your kerberos account is a link that says "Download the UMVPN - All Traffic profile". Download it

6. Open this profile by selecting "Import" on the VPN client. This will allow you to access non-umich websites when connected via VPN.

7. On the VPN client it will ask you to log-in when you double click on the "UMVPN - All Traffic" link. The username and password are your uniqname and kerberos password

8. If successfully connected the window will dissapear and on the bottom right hand corner of your screen in the taskbar area will be a yellow pad lock that is in a "locked" position

I didn't have any luck using an alumni account a while back but I know it works for current students (and I would guess it works current faculty and staff but I haven't verified that it does)

For Item #3, most will have a 32 bit operating system. However, it's a good idea to double check (as the o.p. said). IIRC, if you download the wrong version, your OS will pop an error. It doesn't hurt to have downloaded the wrong version, it simply won't install. Nice write-up 'foo.

Many cable providers do the same, I think. I have a Time Warner app that allows me to watch TV and also program my DVR from my iPhone/Pad. The stupid thing is that it only works at home for me - I can't use it here at work, for example. Kind of defeats the purpose.

I'm not what we call great with computers, but my girl friend set this up for me on my Mac. Once its set up its really easy to use. I just log onto the computer then open the browser window and I have free glorious television.